Talks on formation of minority Government to reconvene

Talks between Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil on the formation of a minority Government are to reconvene – possibly as early as today. But Fianna Fáil is unlikely to sign any documents committing to a timeframe for such a Government and is demanding that Fine Gael get between six and eight more independents and others on board. Last night Fianna Fáil threw in the towel on its attempts to be the party to form a minority Government. So now it’s up to Enda Kenny and Fine Gael to try and put an administration together or a second general election will have to take place. But various problems are now hurdles to form such a Government. Firstly Fianna Fáil says the minority Government “must include others” – and is suggesting that needs to be between six and eight of the Independents and others that have been abstaining in votes. The meeting of the Fianna Fail Parliamentary Party last night also urged negotiators not to sign anything, not to have a document committing to a timeframe or number of budgets that the government would last for and to stick to supporting it on a case by case basis. But the Independents who have abstained are adamant that they want to see a firm commitment on three budgets being delivered.